Improvement in iron folding-chairs



JOHN LAU ER.

Improvement in Iron Folding-Chairs.

N0. 127,899, PatentedJuneH I87Z.

wihwssaa'. hurwlavz m. mom-m/mc/umm may. fosszmw's M0058 UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn JOHN LAUER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND GEORGE O. TOBIAS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN IRON FOLDING-CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,899, dated June 11, 1872.

To whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JOHN LAUER, of Ohicago,.in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Iron Folding-Chairs; and I do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon and being a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved chair extended as a bed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device arranged as a reclining-chair. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective of the leg-frame. Fig. 4 is a plan of one of the locking-bars and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same and of the adjacent notched quadrant.

Like letters refer to like parts in each figure.

This invention has for its object the construction of an iron folding-chair in such a manner that it may be readily changed from an arm-chair to a reclining or lounging chair, a childs crib, a bed, or compactly folded into a small compass for transportation. The invention consists in the peculiar construction of a leg-frame for supporting the middle or seat section of the chair, in the peculiar meth- 0d of locking the various sections in the different positions, and in the general arrangement of the various parts, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, A represents the leg-frame of my chair formed of four bars of iron with their ends turned or bent outwardly at a miter. Between the ends of the bars the tops of the legs B are inserted and secured by a rivet, a, which forms a pivot for them, so that they may be folded inward and lie flat or horizontally between the frame-bars. Gare braces, one end of each being pivoted in the body of a leg, with the other extremity bent at a right angle with an eye punched in it. The other end of each brace is pressed through the eye of its fellow, making an extension or slip joint in each pair, the eyes of each pair coming together and forming a. stop when fully drawn out to erect the frame on the legs. The braces slide over each other when the legs are folded in. A notch may be formed in each brace to receive the eye of its fellow when fully drawn out to secure the same in that position, if de sired. The front ends of the side bars are carried forward beyond the leg-joint, as shown, and have secured to them the downward curved ends of the side bars of the seat-frame D, the rear ends of which are supported upon brackets E riveted to them and the leg-frame. F is the back-frame, also of light iron, its lower ends being pivoted to the rear end of the side bars of the seat-frame. oted to the sides of the back-frame. To the front ends of these are pivoted the arm-levers H, the lower ends of which are in turn pivoted to the side bars of the seat-frame. The lower end of these levers form a kind of bell-crank, in the extremity of which is formed a notched segment, H. Iisalocking-barplayingthrough a slot in the side bars of the seat-frame, and

engaging with one of the notches of the segment H, except at each end in one'place, where a notch is cut in the bar to allow the segments to move. A knob or handle is provided at each end of the bar, so that the occupant may slide the bar until its notches come opposite the segment, when the position or angle of the back section may be changed to suit, when, by

the segdrawing the bar in either direction, ment will be locked again. J are the side bars of the foot-section, their upper ends being bent to a right angle and interposed between the front ends of the bars D, and the extended ends of the side bars of the. leg-frame being pivoted on the bolts or rivets, which secure them together. On thenpper ends of the bars J are formed the notched segments J, with which engages a locking-bar, K, mortised through the front ends of the bars A, in the manner already described, for the purpose of extending the foot-section to a horizontal po sition on a plane with the seat-section, or in clining it to any angle below it. The back, seat, and foot sections are provided with foundations composed of light interlaced straps of iron to support the cushions, which are of the same area and of any desired thickness. L is a foot-rest to the chair, the side bars of which are pivoted to the ends of the side bars of the foot-section, and are provided with the notched segments L, with which engages the lockingbar M, mortised in the bars J of the'foot-section so that the foot-rest may be locked at G are arm-pieces piv right angles to, or form a prolongation of the foot-section, or locked in any intermediate position so that it may be used as a head-board, or to extend the length of the couch, as well as a foot-board for the chair. N are legs pivoted to the side bars of the back section to support the latter when in a horizontal position; otherwise they are folded between the side bars.

7 A chair, which, when extended, as in Fig.1,

forms a bed or couch six feet two inchesin length, may be folded up to occupy but twentyfour by twenty-six inches area by five inches in height. To get it in this position, remove the cushions, fold the back onto the seat-section, turn the chair on its side, fold the legs between their frame, extend the foot-rest on a plane with the foot-section, and fold the latter under the leg-frame.

The peculiar construction of the leg-section renders the use of lighter iron possible than can be used in other chairs of this class, and affords greater stability to the chair.

The various changes of position in the different sections may be made by the occupant without leaving the chair.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The construction and arrangement of the -leg-frameA,legs B, and slip-braces G with re lation to the seat-frame I) of a chair, constructed substantially as herein described, for the purpose specified.

2. The arrangement of the locking-bars I, K, and M with relation to the segments H, J, and L of the arm-levers H and bars J and L, respectively, in the frames A, D, and J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the leg-frame A and legs B, of the seat-frame D, bracket E, back-frame F, legs N, arm-pieces G, arm-levers H, foot-section J, and foot-rest L, and the locking-bars I, K, and M, as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN LAUER.

Witnesses:

H. F. EBERTS, GEO. O. TOBIAS. 

